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| Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava temple Mosale |
- Distance to starting location from Bangalore: ~140 km
- Starting location: Chennarayapatna Bypass
- Cycling distance: ~55 kms
- Destination: Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Anekere and Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale
- Awesome cycling trip to end the year. Started in March 2023 with the journey to cycle mythical temples, this makes about ~700 kms of cycling and visiting 19 temples.
- Road Condition: Road condition is overall good with most of the road covered with tress and shade.
Before Start of Bicycle Ride (Cycle in KSRTC bus)
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| Kalasa of Sri. Chennakeshava Temple. Anekere |
Anekere is called so as the elephants from Mallappana betta (Nearby Hill) used to come to the lake in the village.
This ride not being a loop made me decide to go by KSRTC. As usual, went to Govarthan Theatre bus stop and waiting to get in any bus without reservation.
Electric bus to Chikkamagalur refused to ply with cycle. Sometime I really want to check, if there is no place for cycle in luggage compartment in electric buses. Around 7:25 AM another bus to Mangalore (Volvo Bus/Airavat) was ready to take the cycle and drop me at Chennarayapatna Bypass.
On the Way
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| Cycling to Sri. Chennakeshava temple, Anekere and Sri. Nageshwara,Sri. Chennakeshava temple, Mosale |
Road from Anekere and Mosale is great and with good elevation. Most of the terrain is very encouraging with Mallappana Betta and the windmills in the Betta (in Kannada 'Hill') is mesmerising.
As I got closer to some of the windmills, the elevation gain in large and tiring. Nevertheless, once you are at the top, could see many many windmills and gives a sense of solitude.
There is a temple on Mallapana betta, if you have time do visit.
At the first destination Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Anekere
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| Sri. Chennakeshava temple, Anekere |
Temple looks small from outside but once you enter the door, opens up for a huge area with spacious courtyard and pillars all around the courtyard which are lathe turned.
Deities and brief history
- Ekakoota Temple. With one shrine and one Shikara (Gopura). Temple has Jagathi (Platform)
- Incomplete Hoysala temple, with hardly any carvings on the outer walls and neither the layers of Elephants and others on the periphery.
- Single gopura with Kalasa (Water pot) on the sanctum sanctorum of Sri. Chennakeshava has carvings and "Missing" the Hoysala icon of Sala fighting the Lion.
- Look for
- Exquisite Kalasa - looks very big with beautiful carvings. Check it out from behind part of the temple.
- Tulasi in front of the temple on beautiful and tall Brindavan.
- Temple has four lathe turned pillars and navaranga. All of the Bhuvaneshwari or top part of the ceiling has carvings. Except one is broken.
- Contact Manjunath, priest of the temple for Darshan and Mangalarathi. Reach him at 94483 30707.
Deities and brief history
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| Sri. Chennakeshava idol at Anekere temple |
Temple was supposed to be built in 12th Century (1119) by Veera Ballala II. Per local priest (Check video below) the temple was built by Hoysala kings to commemorate the win against Chalukyas.
In the recent past (2000s), Dharmasthala head Veerendra Hegde helped in the renovation.
Back of the temple is further being renovated by locals. Unfortunately, this temple is not under ASI and renovations are not in great taste to maintain the history or aesthetics of historical architecture.
Sri. Chennakeshava idol is visual and spiritual treat and the deity is on the pedestal with Gardua on the pedestal.
Again per priest, original deity was Sri. Chennakeshava and was changed to Sri. Janardhana and now back to Sri. Chennakeshava.
Enjoyed the ride all the way of about 30 kms from Anekere and reached Mosale around 1:30 PM.
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| On the way to Mosale, Mallappana Betta and the Windmills. |
At the second destination Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale
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| Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava twin temples at Mosale. |
This is very unique set of two temples dedicated to Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava in the same complex. The twin temples are of same style and depicts of the patronage of Hoysala kings for both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Twin temples are of same architecture and almost alike. Complex is very well maintained and clean. Temples are owned by ASI. But there is no board in the complex about the history for details of the temple.
Deity of First temple and brief history of Sri. Nageshwara, Mosale
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| Sri. Nageshwara, Mosale |
Temple was supposed by built in 12th Century during the reign of Hoysala king Veera Ballala II.
Family of the priest was available to show the temple and had the key to show the Garbha gudi of the temple. But he said, he is only responsible for this temple and other temple would be shown the watchman.
Main deity of the temple of the left in the complex is of Sri. Nageshwara. Fascinating thing to note is the shadow of the Shiva Linga forms Nandi with horns.
Outside of Sanctum Santorum, is the Navaranga and there are multiple idols there. One interesting thing to see is the 2.5 ft statue of Sri. Chennakeshava within the temple of Sri.Nageshwara.
Two idols were stolen in 2014 by breaking the door but the still the idols of Atma Linga (Tall Linga), body guards at the inside door and the Family of Lord shiva carvings are majestic.
- Ekakoota Temple. With one shrine and one Shikara (Gopura). Temple has Jagathi (Platform)
- Great Hoysala temple, with exquisite carvings on the outer walls but missing the layers of Elephants and others on the periphery.
- Single gopura with Kalasa (Water pot) on the sanctum sanctorum of Sri. Chennakeshava has carvings and the Hoysala icon of Sala fighting the Lion.
- Look for
- Exquisite Kalasa - big with beautiful carvings.
- All of the Bhuvaneshwari or top part of the ceiling has carvings. With Center of the ceiling of Kailasa is a beauty.
- Saptamatrukas - 7 godess inside a small chamber.
- Look for dancing Lord Ganesha in one of the ceiling.
Deity of second temple and details Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
Watchman had the key to the temple but not for the Garbha Gudi. Through the hold in the door could see the majestic idol of Sri. Chennakeshava.
- Ekakoota Temple. With one shrine and one Shikara (Gopura). Temple has Jagathi (Platform)
- Single gopura with Kalasa (Water pot) on the sanctum sanctorum of Sri. Chennakeshava has carvings and the Hoysala icon of Sala fighting the Lion.
- There is a platform right in front of the temple, couldn't ascertain why. was there a plan to build third temple ?
- Look for
- Exquisite Kalasa - big with beautiful carvings.
- Vaishno Devi (Per watchman, other place you can see in Kashmir). This is at the right of Sanctum Santorum.
- Sharada ( Without Veena in hand) and Lakshmi idols - Opposite to each other in the temple.
- Beautifully carved large Ganesha at the entrance of the main chamber.
Outer walls of both temples have Sri. Narasimha, Sri, Venugopala, Other forms of Vishnu and goddess idols.
On the way back
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
For every single red bus (Karnataka Saarige), people would run before the bus stopped and put some item through window to reserve the seat.
TC (Ticket Collector) said, would have to wait till 7 or 8 pm or later to get seat in Rajahamsa or Airavata buses as its a Sunday and buses will not have any seats and all will be reserved. Red bus (Karnataka Saarige) don't have big enough luggage space to carry cycle and confirmed by one of the conductor.
Thought for sometime to go back to Bangalore-Mangalore highway and stop/hop on some trucks but later decided to stay put and wait for bus at KSRTC bus stand. All of sudden a Volvo (Airavata) bus showed up and driver said, all seats are free and no reservation. Since the bus had broken down near Sakleshpur and got repaired, no reservations and any seat which is not occupied can be taken. After an hour wait, got lucky and started back home at 4:45 PM.
Moral of the story, don't go to Hassan bustard on Sunday to get Rajahamsa or Airavata without reservation. Going forward will stick to ride on Saturday if using KSRTC to ferry cycle.
Ride Details:
Date: 10th Dec 2023 (Sunday)
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Occasional clouds, max 27 °C
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Occasional clouds, max 27 °C
Start Time: 10:10 AM
End Time: 3:45 PM
Ride Time: 3H 48M
Overall Rating for Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Anekere
3 out of 5
Overall Rating for Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale
4 out of 5
5: Excellent - Plan your ride ASAP
4: Must Try - Add to your bucket list
3: Average - If you are close by then visit
2: Unrewarding - Look for another destination
1: Don't take a chance - Not worth it
4: Must Try - Add to your bucket list
3: Average - If you are close by then visit
2: Unrewarding - Look for another destination
1: Don't take a chance - Not worth it
Pictured and Videos from Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Anekere
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| Gajalakshmi, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 1, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 2, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 3, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 4, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 5, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 6, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari 7, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari (Broken), Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Bhuvaneshvari , Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Center Bhuvaneshvari , Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Kalasa, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Tulasi, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple Anekere |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava within the Sri. Nageshwara Temple Mosale |
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| BhuKailasa, Bhuvaneshwari (Ceiling) Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Atma Linga, Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Lord Shiva Parivara, Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Dwara Palakas, Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Dancing Ganesha, outside Corridor Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Yoga Narasimha, Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Venugopala, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Narasimha. Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Yoga Narasimha, Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri Lakshmi, Narayana Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Chennakeshava Temple, Mosale |
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| Sri. Nageshwara and Sri. Chennakeshvara temple Mosale.14 kms from Hassan |
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